News Corp went for last minute settlement in phone hacking Case in UK

News Corp., which is owned by Rupert Murdoch, has now settled a phone hacking case in the UK. It will pay an undisclosed sum with four claimants, mainly B-list celebrities, who alleged the British publishing unithacked phones and deleted email evidence at a time when James Murdoch was its executive chairman.This is the second time the U.K. publisher has settled hacking claims as a trial was set to start.

David Sherborne, the claimants’ lawyer, said: "I’d like to apologize for any inconvenience caused for these cases having settled right at the very last minute."

The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority is scheduled to issue provisional findings this month on whether the Sky takeover would give Murdoch too much power in the U.K. and if Fox upholds broadcasting standards. The CMA had said it would consider any evidence that emerged from the case.

News Corp. is still facing around 50 more claims that are working their way to a trial.